If I Have HIV, Am I at Higher Risk of COVID-19?
We are still learning about COVID-19 and how it affects people with HIV. Based on limited data, we believe that people with HIV who are on effective treatment have the same risk for COVID-19 as people who do not have HIV.
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at risk for severe illness. This includes people with weakened immune systems. The risk for people with HIV getting very sick is greatest in:
People with a low CD4 cell count, and
People not on HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART).
There is currently no risk to prevent COVID-19, so the best way to prevent getting sick is to avoid exposure to the virus.
Continue taking your HIV medicine, follow the advice of your health care provider, and take everyday preventive actions to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19.
COVID-19 and HIV: Federal Resources
Below are resources about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from agencies across the federal government for people with HIV and the health care providers and organizations who work with them. Information is regularly being updated as we learn more in this evolving situation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC.gov/coronavirus —This site provides the latest public health and safety information on COVID-19 from CDC for consumers and the medical and health provider community.
COVID-19 and HIV—This page contains links to CDC resources on COVID-19 for people at risk for and with HIV, and for public health partners.
COVID-19: What People with HIV Should Know—This page answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the impact of COVID-19 on people with HIV.
How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 If You Are Immunocompromised—This page provides information for people with weakened immune systems on how to prevent COVID-19 and protect their health. It includes information for specific conditions.
HIV Self-Testing Guidance—This CDC guidance addresses the use of HIV self-testing programs to supplement the HIV prevention efforts of health departments and community-based organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interim Guidance for Syringe Services Programs (SSPs)—This guidance describes actions for jurisdictional public health authorities, as well as SSPs, to support the health and well-being of their staff and the clientele they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. SSPs provide a range of services to people with or at risk for HIV who inject drugs.
Medical Conditions Evidence Table—This table provides links to the scientific evidence used to update CDC’s list of underlying medical conditions that increase (or might increase) a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including HIV. It is regularly updated by CDC.
People Who Are at Increased Risk for Severe Illness—This page provides links to information for older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions who are—or might be—at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including people with untreated or poorly controlled HIV.
PrEP During COVID-19—This CDC guidance addresses the provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) when facility-based services are disrupted and in-person patient-clinician contact is limited due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Public Health Activity Guidance—This document addresses protecting public health workers engaged in activities that require face-to-face interaction with clients, including programs for HIV and other infectious diseases.
Questions and Answers: For People Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder—This page provides COVID-19 information for people who use drugs or have substance use disorder, and medical professionals who work with them. It is regularly updated by CDC.
What to Know About Liver Disease and COVID-19—This page addresses the impact of COVID-19 on people with liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Because hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfections are common among people with HIV, this page may also be of interest of those with HIV.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Coronavirus: How to Help—This page provides information about how to volunteer and where to send donations.
Coronavirus Rumor Control—This page helps the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding COVID-19. All Americans, including those with HIV, should always go to trusted sources of information.
Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB)
FY 2020 CARES Act Funding for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Recipients—On April 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through HRSA, awarded $90 million to help RHWAP recipients prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. This page provides the latest information for award recipients. View recipients.
HRSA HAB COVID-19 Information—This page provides links to key resources for RWHAP recipients, subrecipients, and stakeholders who are responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It includes audio and transcripts from HRSA HAB’s All Grant Recipient Conference Calls and Webinars.
HRSA.gov/coronavirus—This page provides COVID-19 information specific to all HRSA programs and grantees.
RWHAP COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions—These FAQs were developed to assist RHWAP recipients, subrecipients, and stakeholders as they deliver critical services and assist local communities in response to COVID-19. This page is updated regularly.
Indian Health Service (IHS)
IHS.gov/coronavirus—This web page provides Information specific to the federal response in Indian Country.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
COVID-19 Prevention Trials Network (COVPN)—This new clinical trials network seeks to enroll thousands of volunteers in large-scale clinical trials testing a variety of investigational vaccines and monoclonal antibodies intended to protect people from COVID-19. It was established by merging four four long-standing NIAID-funded clinical trial networks, including three that target HIV and AIDS. (These networks will continue to perform clinical trials for HIV vaccine and prevention and other infectious diseases in addition to their new COVID roles.) Interested individuals can sign up for a rolling clinical trial participant registry on the website, which features security-enhanced protections.
Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIV—This interim guidance reviews special considerations for persons with HIV and their health care providers in the United States regarding COVID-19.
NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines—These Treatment Guidelines have been developed to inform clinicians how to care for patients with COVID-19. These Guidelines will be updated as new information becomes available.
NIDA: Resources to Help Your Patients with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) During the COVID-19 Pandemic—This National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) page provides resources for medical professionals on SUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the comorbidity of HIV and SUD, it may be of use to those who work with people with HIV.
NIDA: COVID-19—NIDA also developed this page of COVID-19 resources for researchers, recovery professionals, medical providers, and others.
NIH.gov/coronavirus—This page provides the latest news about COVID-19 research from NIH.
NLM: COVID-19—This National Library of Medicine (NLM) site provides links to clinical studies, journal articles, text mining collections, and other COVID-19 resources.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA.gov/coronavirus—This site provides guidance and resources on the prevention and treatment of those with mental health and SUD as it relates to COVID-19.
SAMHSA: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak—This resource discusses what individuals may expect before, during, and after social distancing, quarantine, and isolation, and how to care for one's behavioral health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights
HHS OCR Bulletin on Civil Rights Laws and HIPAA Flexibilities that Apply During the COVID-19 Emergency—This Bulletin is focused on ensuring that covered entities (such as hospitals, clinics, and state health departments) do not unlawfully discriminate against people with disabilities when making decisions about their treatment during the COVID-19 public health emergency. It includes addressing the needs of people with HIV in emergency planning.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD COVID-19 Resources and Fact Sheets—HUD has posted the FY 2020 allocations for the Office of Community Planning and Development's (CPD’s) formula programs, including Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) grantees, as well as CARES Act supplemental funding for HOPWA programs and others.
Using HOPWA Program Funds for Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response—This resource describes how HOPWA grantees and project sponsors may use HOPWA funds to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
Other Federal Resources
Telehealth.hhs.gov—This resource provides information for patients about telehealth and what to expect when using it, and links to tools and resources for providers.
HHS Newsroom: Secretary Azar Announces Historic Expansion of Telehealth Access to Combat COVID-19 —This news release discusses the steps the Administration has taken to expand Americans' access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
For more information about COVID-19, visit these government sites: